A Footloose Flash-Forward (Plus Stunt-Double Secrets)

This TV show host has proven himself a worthy friend of dance. Since taking over the “Tonight Show” in February, he’s brought us such dance-tastic segments as “The Evolution of Hip-Hop Dancing” with Will Smith and the “three-legged pants dance” with Cameron Diaz. I mean…the man has a velvety dance bag of classic moves. What more could you ask of him?

But on Friday, something shocking happened: Jimmy Fallon announced the “Tonight Show”‘s new ban on dance! GASP.

Fortunately, Kevin Bacon, star of the 1984 film Footloose, was there to save the day with the most epic entrance ever:

For those of you not getting the reference (or for those of you who’ve only seen the 2011 remake featuring the lovely Julianne Hough and the dashing Kenny Wormald), get your hands on a copy of the original Footloose ASAP—or rent it on Amazon for just $4!

But we do have a bit of a bone to pick. During Bacon’s post-entrance interview, he introduced his body double from the acrobatic interlude circa 2:22-2:36 (a competitive gymnast named Andrés). However, neither Bacon nor Fallon ever credits the dance double responsible for the silhouetted dance sequence at 2:06.

C’mon guys!

It’s time to set the record straight: Andrew Madsen—whose theater credits include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Wicked, and who’s performed on “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”—was Kevin Bacon’s dance double in this Footloose flash-forward. And while we’re at it, Danielle Flora—who’s worked with Janet Jackson, on MTV and on “SNL”—is the choreographic mastermind behind it all. Thanks guys! (And we still love you, Jimmy.)